Guwahati: Faced with charges in the media of publicly admitting to paying money to the banned ULFA, Assam Water Resource minister Rajib Lochan Pegu on Wednesday dismissed such reports. In a statement, Mr Pegu denied having making any comment on paying extortion or protection money to any militant outfit, including the ULFA.
A section of local media had quoted Mr Pegu as stating in a Congress function at Majuli, his home constituency, of Congressmen, including himself, having to pay money to the ULFA.
Denying of making any such statement, the minister said he had remarked that Congress workers often refuse threats from the ULFA. The minister further claimed that he had urged the ULFA to shun violence and sign a peace treaty with the government like the Dima Hasao Daogah (DHD) and work for the progress of the state in the meeting. (UNI)
